Posts Tagged ‘Air Car’

There is a hype these days about the all new (Not really) the Air Car. A car runs on compressed air. This can do about 300Km on a full tank (Of compressed air). Only output is the air (Non compressed). This car basically converts the energy stored in the compressed air to the movements of the pistons and hence drives the car forward.

Last year, I thought Aptera Motor’s super-efficient space age car was something to look forward to. But despite all the media attention and the promising designs and even after offering to take pre-orders, they closed. So I have no option but to be cautious when thinking about this new car too.

When it comes to compressed air vehicles, it is not the first time we see this. There had been many earlier attempts to make a car which runs on compressed air. But none of them really did succeed. How Tata’s concept will do, is yet to be seen.

From a pure mechanical engineering point of view, I am not sure how efficient compressed air is as an energy carrier or energy storage medium. In addition I am not very optimistic about the capabilities of efficient energy conversion.

But despite all my concerns, Tata Motor’s claims seem to be very attractive. I wish this works out and gives a better solution for the mankind. But we will have to remember shifting pollution from the roads to some other place will not solve the issue. So the technology has to be really green in the bigger picture.